[Ad Hoc Committee on General Investigating and Ethics on May 4, 2023.]
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GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON GENERAL INVESTIGATING AND ETHICS.
THE TIME IS 2:00, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO THIS MEETING.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 10TH, 2022.
IS THERE A MOTION? SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
OUR FIRST ITEM IS TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY HERE TO CALL EVERYBODY.
AND IF YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND START, WE'D APPRECIATE HEARING FROM FOLKS.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
YOU DO HAVE YOU HAD EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD REGISTERED TO SPEAK ONE CANCELLATION? I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
YOU'LL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE TIME IS ON THE MONITOR IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP, PLEASE STOP.
AFTERNOON. I'M SORRY. WILL YOU? IT'S A GREEN BUTTON IN FRONT OF YOU.
WILL YOU PUSH ON YOUR MICROPHONE? THERE YOU GO. AH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS PATRICK SANDERS AND I MANAGE THE UNIVERSITY CROSSING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TO ECHO MY SUPPORT TO A LETTER THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN SENT TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE EXPRESSING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT'S CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITIES.
I ALSO WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT I AM HERE WITH ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS TODAY, MR. LARRY WALTON, WHO'S TAKEN TIME OUT OF HIS DAY TO BE HERE WITH US.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE AND TO REITERATE THE IDEA THAT MR. WALTON IS A VOLUNTEER WHO HAS GIVEN SO MUCH OF HIS TIME AND DEDICATION AS EVERYBODY ELSE ON OUR BOARD HAS. AND I HAVE SPOKEN A LOT WITH MR. WALTON ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
AND WE BELIEVE CATEGORICALLY THAT IF THESE IF THIS PROPOSAL FOR REGULATIONS WAS IMPOSED ON OUR BOARD, IT WOULD HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR BOARD TO THE POINT AND THIS IS NOT TO BE DRAMATIC, THAT I WOULD LOSE MR. WALTON'S SERVICE AND I WOULD LOSE THE SERVICE OF MANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND TO BE CANDID WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE, I CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THEIR SERVICE.
MY PID CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THEIR SERVICE WITHOUT THEIR SERVICE, MY PID CANNOT DO ITS JOB AND WE CANNOT FULFILL OUR MISSION TO.
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR OUR OUR DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
AS A NONPROFIT AND A MANAGER OF FUNDS COLLECTED FROM STAKEHOLDERS FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT, WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING FOR TRANSPARENCY, BEST PRACTICES IN GOVERNANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROLS AND THE RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.
WE KNOW THAT 12 HAS SIMILAR GOALS, BUT WE FEEL THIS IS NOT THE BEST VEHICLE TO REGULATE PIDS BY OPERATING AS A NON PROFIT AND UNDER A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CHANNELS OF OVERSIGHT.
WE KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AS SMALL NONPROFITS TO ADHERE TO THOSE POLICIES.
QUARTERLY REPORTING TO THE CITY, AS WELL AS ANNUAL AUDIT AND OUR 990 REPORTING.
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MET. PIDS ALSO GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICE OF UNPAID VOLUNTEERS WHO SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS WORKING TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF OUR ORGANIZATION. THAT MISSION IS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY, TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, TO PRODUCE PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES AND LINKAGES, AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS.DECLARING THOSE DIRECTORS AS CITY OFFICIALS, AS IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED, WILL DISQUALIFY OR MAKE PARTICIPATION DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IN SOME CASES, THE PROPOSED CHANGES ACTUALLY CREATE CONFLICT WITHIN THE DOCUMENTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. LARRY MCCOY, REPRESENTATIVE ON THE MANAGER FOR THE KLYDE WARREN PARK ARTS DISTRICT.
AND NOT JUST A REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID AND IS GOING TO SAY, BUT I AM HERE TO ECHO OUR SUPPORT FOR THE LATTER THAT I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED, AS WELL AS EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING SAID HERE AS IT IS AT THE END OF DAY, AN UNDUE BURDEN WITH RESPECT TO OUR BID.
JENNIFER SCRIPPS? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INC.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE HERE WITH OUR FELLOW PIDS AS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, REALLY QUARTERBACKED BY OUR CEO AMY THARP, WHO HAS MORE THAN A DOZEN YEARS OF PID MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE ACROSS PIDS OF ALL SIZES.
AND THROUGHOUT THIS WORK WE HAVE ENGAGED A LAWYER AND PID EXPERT TO PROVIDE A LEGAL OPINION TO THE CITY AS WE HAVE INVESTIGATED WHAT 12 A WOULD MEAN FOR OUR INDUSTRY.
WE ALL STRIVE DAILY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR PID RATEPAYER FUNDS, BUT PUTTING PID, MEMBERS AND PID CEOS LIKE MYSELF UNDER CHAPTER 12A IS UNNECESSARY. IT IS UNDUE BURDEN.
AS WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, WE SHARED A SUMMARY FRAMEWORK THAT CLEARLY SHOWS HOW OUR CITY'S OWN UPDATED PID POLICY RECENTLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. YOUR OWN ETHICS POLICIES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR PID SERVICE AGREEMENTS OVERSEEN BY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AND SUFFICIENT.
KEY GROWTH AREAS TO THE FUTURE OF OUR ENTIRE CITY AND 12 COULD HINDER THESE EFFORTS TO SET UP NEW AND SUCCESSFUL PIDS AS IT COULD DETER VIABLE CANDIDATES OF FUTURE PID STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS.
WHY STYMIE SUCH A SUCCESSFUL MODEL? I URGE YOU TO STRIKE PIDS COMPLETELY FROM INCLUSION IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE LANGUAGE.
IT WOULD BE OVERREACHED WITH POTENTIALLY GRIEVOUS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
THANK YOU. STEPHANIE KELLER? GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE KELLER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEEP ELLUM FOUNDATION.
AND I ONLY CAUGHT THE TAIL END THERE.
BUT I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO BE MORE ELOQUENT THAN JENNIFER, SO I'LL BE BRIEF.
I LOVE WHAT I DO AT THE DEEP ELLUM FOUNDATION.
WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY ENHANCES WHAT THE CITY IS ALREADY DOING.
WE PROVIDE SECURITY SERVICES, WE CLEAN SIDEWALKS AND REMOVE GRAFFITI.
WE WORK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT EVERY SINGLE DAY TO ADVANCE DEEP ELLUM.
AND I TELL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY JOIN US THAT I BELIEVE WHAT WE DO IS PUBLIC SERVICE, BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE DO IS WE ACCEPT PUBLIC DOLLARS AND WE TREAT WHAT WE DO WITH THAT LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
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AND SO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD OUTLINED THIS MORNING IS SOMETHING THAT WE AT THE DEEP ELLUM FOUNDATION FULLY SUPPORT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE REDUCE REDUNDANCY WHERE IT'S UNNECESSARY.WE ALREADY HAVE A BOARD THAT WE MEET WITH MONTHLY, FRANKLY, UP TO A THOUSAND, OVER $1,000.
WE HAVE INCREDIBLE STAKEHOLDERS.
I WANT TO SPEND EVERY SINGLE DAY ADVANCING OUR DISTRICT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SPEND MY TIME DOING.
AND SO IF I CAN DO THAT WHILE ALSO REMAINING IN COMPLIANCE, THAT'S OUR WIN WIN.
LIKE I SAID, I BELIEVE IT'S PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND SO IF YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT, WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE WE APPRECIATE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND SERVING ALL OF YOU.
AND I THANK YOU. AND WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THANK YOU, CHRIS HEINBAUGH? GOOD AFTERNOON.
FIRST, LET ME START BY SAYING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
OUR CITY IS ALL THE BETTER FOR IT.
I'M CHRIS HEINBAUGH. I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE KLYDE WARREN PARK DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT PID.
AND I DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE A STAKEHOLDER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THESE CHANGES TO 12A WILL DRIVE AWAY BOARD MEMBERS AND MAKE IT VERY HARD TO REPLACE THEM.
A PID IS NOT AN ARM OF GOVERNMENT.
YES, OUR CITY COUNCIL RIGHTLY, IS THE ENABLING AUTHORITY.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT VEHICLE.
IF I'M APPOINTED TO A CITY COMMISSION OR BOARD, I UNDERSTAND ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GO WITH THAT APPROVAL BY COUNCIL, PUBLIC MEETINGS, POSTINGS, QUORUMS, RECORDS, REQUESTS, ALL OF THAT.
BUT THOSE ARE FOR OFFICIAL BODIES OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
THIS CHANGE WILL HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT.
WE DIDN'T EVEN FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL THE BRIEFING LAST YEAR.
WE'RE STILL GUESSING AS TO EXACTLY WHY THESE CHANGES ARE PROPOSED OR WHAT NEEDS FIXING.
THIS WAS DONE IN A SILO AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE LAWMAKING.
THAT IS EXACTLY HOW YOU GET UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
AND WHERE DOES IT END? WELL. 12A START EXTENDING THE STATUS TO BOARDS OR SMALL OF SMALL GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT FUNDING OR FIRMS THAT HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, ETHICS BOUNDARIES AND SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE, AND IF TWEAKS ARE NEEDED TO BE MADE, THE CITY HAS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WITH THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS TRYING TO ACHIEVE THESE WITH CHANGES TO 12A ESPECIALLY WITHOUT INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, IS NOT A BEST PRACTICE FOR EFFECTIVE LAWMAKING.
THANK YOU. JONATHAN PASPAL HAS CANCELED.
VICKI TAYLOR. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAKE HIGHLANDS AND NORTH LAKE HIGHLANDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO HERE WITH ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, WHICH THIS 12A HAS BEEN A VERY BIG IMPACT ON MY BOARD.
AND IF IT'S PASSED, SO MANY OF MY BOARD MEMBERS ARE WANTING TO DROP OFF THE BOARD.
AND WHEN YOU GET A VOLUNTEER, JUST KNOW THAT THEY'RE VOLUNTEERING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND SO TO LOSE THAT IS LOSE IS TO LOSE THE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE ARE ALREADY BURDENSOME WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT REPORTS AND WE LOVE STAYING IN COMPLIANCE.
I'M OVER TO PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND SO THE IMPACT THAT I MAKE IS HAVING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWNERS BEING AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO CALL ME AND JUST BEING THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WE KNOW BECAUSE WE ARE THERE, THE NEEDS THAT THESE OWNERS WANT.
I JUST MET WITH THE OWNER YESTERDAY AND JUST BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
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GOING TO MAKE IT VERY HARD FOR US TO DO THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING.WE DO QUARTERLY REPORTS, WE DO AUDIT REPORTS, WE DO 990S FINANCIALS.
ALL OF THIS IS NOT ONLY PRESENTED TO CITY OF DALLAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO PRESENTED TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND WITH THE GRACIOUSNESS OF THEIR HEART, THEY'RE HERE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WE ASK OF YOU TODAY TO VOTE DOWN 12A AND NOT LET IT BE A PART OF DRIVING OUR BOARD'S APART AND NOT DOING THE EXTENDED WORK THAT WE ARE HERE TO DO AS A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
MADAM CHAIR, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE ALL THE KIDS COMING OUT.
LOVE TO SEE YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR BRIEFING ITEM, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 12A, AND WE'VE GOT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HERE TO PRESENT THAT IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND EMAILS WE'VE RECEIVED, I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO COVER SORT OF THE PROS AND CONS SPECIFICALLY OF HOW THIS ADDRESSES PIDS.
I THINK MR. VANDENBERG IS GOING TO DO THAT AND THEN PASS IT OFF TO THE REST OF US TO PRESENT MR. VANDENBERG WILL. HE JUST HAS TO GET US SHARING.
GIVE US ONE SECOND. THE RECENT ANOMALIES HAVE SLOWED THIS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND DO IT WHILE HE WORKS ON THAT.
OVER HERE TO MY FAR LEFT IS TERESA CARLISLE.
SHE USED TO BE THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SHE WORKS ROUTINELY AND DILIGENTLY ON ALL ETHICS ISSUES THAT COME ACROSS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
BURT VANDENBERG IS THE INTERIM HEAD OF GENERAL COUNSEL RIGHT NOW, AND HE'S ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM KIND OF SUPERVISING ALL OF US AND KEEPING US ORGANIZED. MY NAME IS LAURA MORRISON, AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE TEAM FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THEN TO MY RIGHT IS OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL, BART BEAVERS, WHO JOINED US JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, I THINK. AND THEN TO HIS RIGHT IS OUR CHIEF INTEGRITY OFFICER, BARON ELIASON.
WELL, AGAIN, I'M BURT VANDENBERG, AND LAURA DID AN EXCELLENT JOB INTRODUCING EVERYBODY.
YES. SO WE WILL BE COVERING SEVERAL ITEMS. OKAY. WE WILL BE COVERING SO CLOSE TO YOU.
I KNOW SEVERAL ITEMS AND I'M NOT TOO SURE WHY.
MY SLIDE IS NOT SHOWING EVERYTHING.
IT'S THE STUFF YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY SEEN.
LAURA WILL BE COVERING NEW STUFF, INCLUDING THE FEEDBACK FROM THE ONE COMMITTEE MEETING WE'VE HAD SINCE THEN, WHICH WOULD COVER THE ITEMS. SHE'LL ALSO BE COVERING SOME CHANGES WE'VE MADE TO THE SUBPOENA STUFF.
WE JUST NOTICED A LITTLE BIT OF AMBIGUITY AND SHE JUST PUTS STRAIGHTENED OUT SOME LANGUAGE ON IT.
AND THEN SHE WILL ALSO COVER THE GIFT REPORTING CHART THAT WE PROVIDED AND SHE WILL ALSO PRESENT.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL PRESENT HIS HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THERESA.
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THE FIRST BEING DEFINING INFORMATION TO BE THE FOLLOWING.THE NEXT IS THAT A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF THE PERSON DISCLOSES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE JUST ADDING MORE TEETH TO THAT PROVISION AS AN OFFENSE, AS A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $500.
NEXT IS ABSTENTION FROM PARTICIPATION IN A MATTER IS NOT REQUIRED IF THE MAJORITY OF A CITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS, BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBERS OR OTHER BODY REPORTS A SIMILAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SO WE'RE TAKING THE STATE LAW RULE THAT IF EVERYONE HAS A CONFLICT, THEN NO ONE HAS A CONFLICT AND EVERYONE THEN CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MATTER.
THE NEXT IS THAT THE COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST THE IG DIVISION WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL IN LIEU OF THEIR OWN DIVISION INVESTIGATING THEMSELVES, AND THE HEARING PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN SIMPLIFIED.
UM, WE ARE INCORPORATING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER 171 CONFLICT OF INTEREST RULES THAT CURRENTLY APPLY TO CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY OFFICIALS THAT ARE QUASI JUDICIAL TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES AND ALL CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE ADVISORY IN NATURE.
SO IF ANYONE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN A BUSINESS ENTITY, THEY HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM FURTHER PARTICIPATION IN THE MATTER AND DISCLOSE THAT AND RECUSE THEMSELVES SO THEY CAN'T TAKE ANY OFFICIAL ACTION.
UM, THE RULE AGAINST IMPERMISSIBLE FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN DISCRETIONARY CONTRACTS OR SALES DURING SERVICE WITH THE CITY WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ENDING SERVICE WITH THE CITY WOULD NOT APPLY TO VOLUNTEERS ON A COMMITTEE OR TASK FORCE FORMED BY A BOARD OR COMMISSION.
AND THIS RULE ALREADY APPLIES TO BOARD AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE ADVISORY IN NATURE.
SO WE'RE JUST EXTENDING THAT EXCEPTION FOR THESE VOLUNTEERS ON THE BOARDS TO BE MORE EQUITABLE.
A CITY OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE NAMED AS THE RESPONDENT IN THE INFORMATION MAY RETAIN AN INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE ATTORNEY ONCE AN INFORMATION IS FILED BY THE IG AND NOT BEFORE. AND WE ARE AMENDING HOW THE CITY SECRETARY OFFICE ASSIGNS THE HEARING PANELS.
AND IT MIGHT BE HARD AND WE MIGHT RUN THE RISK OF NOT MEETING QUORUM.
AND OUR LAST PROVISION IS APPLYING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 12A TO THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS FOR A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND WE HAVE MARIA FROM ECO THAT WILL PROVIDE UPDATES TO THESE PROVISIONS.
MARIA ANN SMITH, INTERIM ASSISTANT, A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
OKAY. IS THIS BETTER? THAT'S BETTER. OKAY.
INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO THOSE PROVISIONS ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT.
AT ONE POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD ALSO CONSIDERED INCORPORATING THE GOOD GOVERNANCE PROVISIONS FROM THE PID POLICY INTO 12A, AND AFTER MANY MONTHS OF REVIEW, THEY'VE DETERMINED THAT DOING DOING SO IS NOT NECESSARY AS THE CITY'S PID POLICY SUFFICIENTLY ALLOWS THE CITY TO TAKE RECOURSE.
IF WE SEE ANY ISSUES AND THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH WITH THAT.
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THINK, TWO MEETINGS AGO OF THE COMMITTEE.AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU EXPECT TO PUT IT INTO CONTRACTS.
THEY ALREADY ARE BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS.
SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR? COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I SEE. CHAIRMAN MCGOUGH VIRTUAL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN SAID? AND JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT LAST PART AGAIN.
FROM THE AMENDMENTS? NO, WE WOULD WE CAME TO THE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS IT.
AND I BELIEVE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AGREES THAT IT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT NOT STAY IN THIS DRAFT, THAT IT BE REMOVED.
WE WOULD NEED YOU ALL TO RECOMMEND THAT IT BE REMOVED.
YES. YOU WILL NEED US TO OR YOU WILL NOT NEED US TO.
WE WILL. WE WOULDN'T MAKE CHANGES.
WE DID THAT. AND SO WE'RE BACK AT THE COMMITTEE TODAY BRIEFING ABOUT IT AGAIN.
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE AS WELL AT THIS POINT.
AND WE'RE. ASKING THE COMMITTEE TO GIVE A RECOMMENDATION THAT IT NOT MOVE FORWARD.
AND I UNDERSTAND IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
I WILL MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
YES, I HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION ON THE QUESTION ABOUT THE THE FIRST BULLET POINT ON SLIDE FIVE, WHERE IT SAYS A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF THE PERSON DISCLOSES CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
I THINK YOU SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE HANDLED WITH A FINE.
SO MY QUESTION WAS, DOES THE DOES THE CURRENT CODE CALL FOR IF THERE'S AN WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S MULTIPLE OFFENSES OR DO THEY JUST PAY 500 BUCKS EVERY TIME THEY DO IT? MULTIPLE OFFENSES COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO MULTIPLE FINDINGS OF GUILT OF A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.
SO SO EACH ONE IS TAKEN ON ITS OWN, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
YES MA'AM. THEY COULD BE EACH TAKEN ON THEIR OWN.
CHAIRMAN SCHULTZ, WERE YOU INTERESTED IN PROPOSING A DIFFERENT IDEA OF HOW THAT WOULD BE HANDLED? I MEAN, I JUST IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME WHEN THEY WERE PRESENTING IT JUST NOW AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BENEFIT TO HAVING, YOU KNOW, A DETERRENCE OF HAVING IF IT'S A RECURRENT SITUATION WITH SOMEONE, WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE ADDITIONAL PUNITIVE MEASURES OR, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATION OR KIND OF CHARGES AGAINST THEM OTHER THAN CLASS C, IF THEY JUST KEEP DOING IT, HOW WOULD THEY GET A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR IF EACH ONE'S TAKEN ON ITS OWN? RIGHT. SO EACH ONE COULD BE ITS OWN CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.
OVER AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE.
RIGHT. SO I'M JUST ASKING FROM OUR OWN ETHICS CODE, IF A PERSON HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY SEVERAL TIMES, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS? DO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I'M NOT BEING VERY ARTICULATE HERE.
SO WE WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT MAKING THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION OF THE ETHICS CODE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
NONE OF THE REST OF OUR PROVISIONS ARE.
SO WHAT WE ENVISIONED WAS THAT IF SOMEBODY VIOLATED MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CODE PROVISIONS THAT WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH TO THE EAC AND THEN ONCE THAT PERSON HAD BEEN FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED, WE COULD ALSO REFER FOR PROSECUTION, BUT ALSO THAT WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH SANCTIONS.
SO THERE'S DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT WE WOULD PURSUE, NOT JUST THE CLASS C MISDEMEANOR OR I GUESS THE COMMITTEE TO SAY ASK WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO DISCUSS THE IDEA THAT IF A PERSON IF IT'S A RECURRING SITUATION AND THEY DO, IS THERE AN ACCUMULATION OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE WITH DIFFERENT MEASURES? SO I THINK THAT.
YEAH. OR SOMETHING ELSE I THINK YEAH.
[00:30:06]
SO THEN WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF THEY FIND IT'S GUILTY, THEY RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL AND THEN WE HAVE A RANGE OF REMEDIATION FROM CENSURE TO REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.WE MIGHT HAVE A PRETTY QUICK MEETING, RIGHT? CHAIR MCGOUGH YOU HAD A MOTION YOU WERE INTERESTED IN PRESENTING? I THINK WE HAVE MORE TO PRESENT.
SO THAT WAS WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT AND A FEW COMMITTEES.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT PHASE.
ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, LAURA MORRISON, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I'M GOING TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT THIS COMMITTEE ASKED US TO BRING BACK.
SO THIS IS FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM THIS COMMITTEE BACK IN NOVEMBER, WHEN THE LAST TIME WE MET, WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT PUTTING SOME TEETH INTO 12A IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ON COUNCIL MEMBERS CAMPAIGNS AND HOW TO DISCLOSE TO COUNCIL WHO THEY ARE WHEN THEY'RE REPRESENTING INTERESTS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO LOBBYING.
SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS A NEW PARAGRAPH IN SECTION 12A-18A, AND THIS IS THE SECTION HAVING TO DO WITH REPRESENTATION OF PRIVATE INTERESTS, AND IT'S REGARDING CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE.
SO THIS WOULD APPLY TO A PERSON WHO WAS PAID TO PARTICIPATE IN A SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER'S MOST RECENT CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN AND WHO REPRESENTS THEMSELVES, THEIR CLIENT, THEIR EMPLOYER, OR ANOTHER THIRD PARTY BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SO WHAT THE RULE WOULD BE IS THAT CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION MUST BE DISCLOSED VERBALLY.
AND THIS APPLIES ONLY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PAID TO WORK ON THESE CAMPAIGNS.
IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO, SAY, A VOLUNTEER.
BLOCK WALKER WHO'S KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR YOU.
AND THEN THERE'S A CLARIFICATION IN HERE THAT THE MOST RECENT CAMPAIGN INCLUDES BOTH THE GENERAL ELECTION AND A RUNOFF IF THERE WAS, IN FACT, A RUNOFF. AND THEN THE THE OTHER AMENDMENT WE'RE PROPOSING IS IN SECTION 12A-35, SUBSECTION H, HAVING TO DO WITH RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES.
AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS THAT IT ALSO APPLY TO CAMPAIGN SLASH POLITICAL CONSULTANTS.
AND IT READS, A PERSON WHO SERVED AS A CAMPAIGN MANAGER, CAMPAIGN TREASURER OR CAMPAIGN SLASH POLITICAL CONSULTANT FOR A PERSON WHO WAS ELECTED AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MAY NOT EITHER PERSONALLY OR THROUGH A REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEE OR AGENT LOBBY A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR A CITY OFFICIAL FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.
AND THEN HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE THE DEFINITIONS FOR THOSE OFFICES.
THAT DEFINITION OF CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS CURRENTLY IN THE CODE.
THE CODE WAS LACKING A DEFINITION OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER, SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADD THAT DEFINITION.
AND THEN ALSO THIS NEW DEFINITION OF CAMPAIGN SLASH POLITICAL CONSULTANT.
THE NEXT ITEM THAT THE COMMITTEE ASKED US TO BRING BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING WAS A CHART THAT SUMMARIZES ALL OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN CHAPTER 12A BECAUSE IT'S A LOT AND CHART FORM SEEMS TO BE EASIER THAN JUST READING A BUNCH OF TEXT.
AND I WILL NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER PUTTING THIS CHART TOGETHER, THERESA AND I WERE ASKED TO GIVE AN UPDATED ETHICS PRESENTATION TO BOTH THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE LANDMARK COMMISSION.
[00:35:01]
BUT THE CHART, ONCE WE PUT IT INTO THE CODE, WILL BE ONE SOLID CHART.SO THE FIRST PORTION OF THE CHART WILL BE THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
AND THIS IT SHOWS HERE ON THE LEFT WHAT THE REPORT IS AND WITH THE CITATION OF WHERE TO FIND THE TEXT THAT EXPLAINS THE REPORT. AND THEN WHO IS SUPPOSED TO FILE THAT REPORT AND THEN THE DUE DATE OF THE REPORT AND THEN WHO YOU SUBMIT IT TO.
AND THEN NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
AND THEN THE SHORT FORM ANNUAL REPORT.
DONATIONS. AND THE TRAVEL REPORTING.
BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN GOOD FEEDBACK ON THE HANDINESS I THINK OF THE CHART.
THE UPDATED SUBPOENA PROCESSES FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
AND THAT READS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF BOOKS, PAPERS AND OTHER EVIDENCE MATERIAL IN THE SAME MANNER AS IS PRESCRIBED BY THE LAWS OF THIS STATE FOR COMPELLING THE ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES AND PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE IN THE CORPORATION COURT.
A MEMBER RECEIVING A SUBPOENA MAY BEFORE THE RETURN DATE SPECIFIED IN THE SUBPOENA PETITION THE CORPORATION COURT FOR A MOTION TO MODIFY OR QUASH THE SUBPOENA. AND THEN FOR THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUING SUBPOENAS FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE AT THE HEARING, THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION HAS THE POWER TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS AGAIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-8, TO COMPEL THE ATTENDANCE OF WITNESSES AND THE PRODUCTION OF TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE AT THE HEARING.
AND THIS WILL PROVIDE FOR THE SUBPOENAS TO BE PROCESSED BY THE CITY SECRETARY.
AND IT ALLOWS FOR OBJECTIONS WITH THE PANEL CHAIR TO BE ABLE TO RULE ON THOSE OBJECTIONS AND THAT THE DOCUMENTS MUST BE RELEASED TO THE PARTIES WITH A COPY MAINTAINED BY THE CITY SECRETARY AND THEN REFUSAL TO APPEAR OR PRODUCE EVIDENCE AFTER RECEIVING A SUBPOENA IS A VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 12 A'S, SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2.2-9 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN HAND IT OVER TO OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THEN I'M NOT SURE IF OUR SLIDES ARE ADVANCING WITH OUR DISCUSSION.
SO WE HOPE THAT AS WE CLOSE OUT THE EAC SUBPOENA PROCESS, WE WILL MOVE TO.
ON THE STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR, SLIDE 19, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING OUT THE PHRASE AT THE UNWARRANTED EXPENSE OF THE CITY AND EXCHANGING THAT FOR OR HIS OR HER RELATIVE TO THE DETRIMENT.
I THINK THIS CHANGE WOULD MAKE THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY A STANDALONE ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT'S TIED TO THE UNWARRANTED EXPENSE OF THE CITY.
HAVING IT NOT TIED TO THAT, I THINK.
AND SO OUR GOAL IS, IS TO BUILD TRUST AND NOT TO PARSE WHAT UNWARRANTED EXPENSE OF THE CITY MEANS.
AND I THINK THESE CHANGES WOULD BE LESS SUBJECTIVE.
[00:40:07]
I THINK THEY WOULD BE CLEANER.I THINK THEY WOULD BE SIMPLER AND MORE QUANTIFIABLE.
LOOKS LIKE A CHANGE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS THE STANDARD OF PROOF.
AND. IT'S A RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE BURDEN OF PROOF AND THE ETHICS ADVISORY COMMISSION HEARINGS FROM CLEAR AND CONVINCING TO PREPONDERANCE.
I SEE IT EXTERNALLY AND I SEE IT INTERNALLY.
AND DURING THOSE 246 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICES AND DIVISIONS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, ALL 50 STATES HAVE THEM.
AND ACCORDING TO MY CONTACTS AT THE ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL, WE ARE THE ONLY INSPECTOR GENERAL DIVISION OR OFFICE IN HISTORY TO HAVE CLEAR AND CONVINCING AS THE BURDEN OF PROOF OR STANDARD OF PROOF IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.
SO EXTERNALLY, WE'RE AN OUTLIER INTERNALLY, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY WHO CONDUCT ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES WOULD BE ONE.
FAIR HOUSING WOULD BE ANOTHER.
I KNOW CIVIL SERVICE HAS SOME STUFF GOING ON AT THE TRIAL BOARD.
SO FROM AN INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT WOULD BE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GETTING IN LINE WITH WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING.
AND WITH THAT, WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE PRESENTATION AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
GREAT. COMMITTEE OF QUESTIONS ON THE NEXT SECTION.
I'VE, CHAIRMAN, JUST VERY QUICK, ONE ON THE REPORTING CHART FOR TRAVEL.
DOES THAT INCLUDE IF WE ATTEND EVENTS AND WE GO TO IF THERE'S AN EVENT HAPPENING AND THAT INCLUDES HOW DID YOU SAY IT? REFRESHMENTS. DOES THAT? DO WE HAVE TO REPORT THAT? THE TRAVEL REPORTING FOR EVENTS.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANYWHERE THE CITY MIGHT SEND YOU BECAUSE IT'S LET'S SEE, IT'S A TRIP OR EXCURSION TO A LOCATION GREATER THAN 50 MILES FROM THE CITY.
THAT INVOLVES THE GRATUITOUS PROVISION OF TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATIONS, ENTERTAINMENT, MEALS OR REFRESHMENTS PAID FOR BY A PERSON OR ENTITY OTHER THAN A PUBLIC AGENCY.
SO IF A PUBLIC AGENCY IS SENDING YOU, YOU DON'T NEED TO REPORT IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER. BLACKMON. THANK YOU.
CAN WE GO TO SLIDE EIGHT? MY PERSONAL FAVORITE CAMPAIGN PERSONNEL DISCLOSURE.
OKAY, SO IF YOU ARE A PERSON THAT IS WORKING UNDER AN ENTITY THAT HELPED ON A CAMPAIGN, DO YOU HAVE TO DISCLOSE IT? BECAUSE IT JUST SAYS PERSON.
AND I'M JUST GOING BY THE LETTER OF THE LAW IN THE CITY CODE.
PERSON IS DEFINED AS TO INCLUDE ENTITY.
BECAUSE IF YOU JUST READ IT ON ITS READ IT IT RIGHT THERE IT JUST SAYS A PERSON.
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF I'M ABC COMPANY BUT I'M PAULA BLACKMON THAT WORKED ON ABC COMPANY THAT ALSO RAN X CAMPAIGN BUT I'M NOT BUT AND THAT WAS DONE BY JOE BLOW.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? I THINK WE COULD CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE TO SAY IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS PAID TO PARTICIPATE OR A PERSON WHO WORKED ON THE CAMPAIGN FOR A COMPANY OR ENTITY THAT WAS PAID.
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN.
OKAY. AND THEN IT SAYS THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT IS ONLY IS THAT ONLY AT A MEETING THAT YOU YOU DISCLOSE IT ONLY AT A MEETING IN WHICH THERE IS LIKE A PODIUM OR DO YOU BECAUSE IT DOES SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HIT THE PODIUM, WHAT ABOUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THEM IN THEIR OFFICE, ONE ON ONES?
[00:45:02]
THIS WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.SO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADJUSTED.
AND WE NEED TO ADD THAT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN MEETING AT THE PODIUM, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOMETIMES AN UNKNOWN. OKAY.
YEAH. SO LIKE IF YOU'RE COMING IN TO TALK ABOUT X INITIATIVE AND YOU CAN SAY JUST IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I WORKED ON JOE BLOW'S CAMPAIGN, SO NOT JUST PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
OKAY. I DO THINK AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT, I MEAN, OTHER CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY THEY COME TO THE PODIUM ALL THE TIME.
YEAH. IT INCLUDES PLAN COMMISSIONERS AND OTHER BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS SO THEY WOULD KNOW.
GOING DOWN TO 12 THE NEXT PAGE OF THIS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT RIGHT NOW.
YES. INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING IT.
AFTER THAT YEAR, THEY WOULD JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO DISCLOSE.
SO AFTER THE YEAR, THEY JUST DISCLOSE, BUT THE YEAR THEY ARE BANNED.
WHAT'S THE WORD BESIDES BANNED? PROHIBITED. PROHIBITED FROM LOBBYING FOR ONE YEAR.
OKAY. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE FIRM.
NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKED ON THE CAMPAIGN.
IF THE WHOLE FIRM WAS RETAINED TO BE THE CAMPAIGN SLASH POLITICAL CONSULTANT FOR THE.
YEAH, FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR THE CANDIDATE, I SHOULD SAY.
OKAY. BECAUSE AND DOES THAT ALSO INVOLVE CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS? IF YOU'RE A CAMPAIGN TREASURER OF A PAST CURRENT PREVIOUS.
THIS PROVISION HAS ONLY TO DO WITH LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.
I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK OUR OUR CONTRACT PROVISIONS.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING HOW DO YOU DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL, IF IT IS? BECAUSE I THINK YOU PROBABLY CAN'T.
I MEAN, I GUESS BUT I MEAN, I JUST WOULD LIKE MORE DISCLOSURE THAN LESS.
YES. THAT'S THE TIME THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
I THINK SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS DO THAT BUT IT'S INDIVIDUAL WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
IT JUST THAT WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT THIS A LITTLE CLOSER BECAUSE IT'S ALSO, TOO, IT DOESN'T A CAMPAIGN TREASURER THIS DOESN'T PROHIBIT THEM FROM COMING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING AT COUNCIL OR DOES IT THEY CAN STILL COME AND SAY I'M UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS.
AND FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M A CAMPAIGN TREASURER TO X.
RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT WOULDN'T BE LOBBYING.
OKAY. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS WONDERING.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IT AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE.
AND IT'S JUST I JUST WANT TO ERR ON MORE DISCLOSURE.
AND SOMETIMES I THINK IF PROHIBITED KEEPS IT UNDERGROUND.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO I'LL KIND OF CONTEMPLATE THIS AND WORK THROUGH IT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO I MEAN, I DON'T, LIKE I SAID, WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM NOT BEING PART OF OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS AND COMING IN EDUCATING US ON THINGS.
BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE TWO INTERSECT.
AND SO BECAUSE THAT TELLS A BIGGER STORY, MOST OF THE TIME.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE FIRST IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE VERY CLEARLY DEFINING THE TITLE OF A ROLE.
TREASURER, OF COURSE, HAS A VERY SPECIFIC FUNCTION, BUT.
HAVE YOU IMAGINED THAT PERHAPS SOMEBODY WOULD USE A DIFFERENT TITLE TO PERFORM THE SAME FUNCTION? MEANING I NO LONGER HAVE A CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
[00:50:05]
WOULD SAY, WELL, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU ARE A CAMPAIGN MANAGER.SO IF THERE'S JUST SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE OR, YOU KNOW THIS TITLE OR SERVES IN THAT FUNCTION, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT END AROUND WHICH I THINK WOULD BE COMING.
BUT. IN THE WORLD OF EFFICIENCY.
I'D RATHER NOT DO IT IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE THAT INPUT.
HAPPY TO HEAR ANYBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY.
AND THEN TO MR. BEAVERS, CHANGE FOR PREPONDERANCE.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I COMPLETELY AGREE.
THANK YOU. SO, MADAM CHAIR, I THINK YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, EVEN FOR SOME LIKE CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, MAY HELP AS WELL WITH THAT.
I DO THINK THAT THE GIFT OF REPORTING IT'S GOOD PRACTICE SO THAT TO YOUR POINT EXACTLY NOT TO MISS IT BECAUSE YOU FORGET IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT REGULARLY AND YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO REPORT AND YOU JUST FORGOT TO DO IT.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE KEEP IN THAT, KEEP THAT OTHERWISE.
AND CHAIRMAN MCGOUGH, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD AT THIS TIME? NO OTHER COMMENTS, BUT IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR GIFT REPORTING.
IS ALL OF THESE ONLINE YET? OR CAN WE DO IT ONLINE? BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE BEEN SIGNING PAPER.
I WOULD LOVE TO PUT EVERYTHING ONLINE AND MAYBE IN THE NEXT BUDGET GIVE YOU THE FUNDS TO DO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW. BILLY RAY JOHNSON, CITY SECRETARY.
OKAY. WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU GET THERE.
AND IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE CALLING ME TO ASK FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORMS. SO I JUST WOULD LOVE TO PUT AS MUCH AS WE COULD ONLINE.
I CAN REFERENCE THIS MEETING WHEN I'M TALKING TO THE IT DEPARTMENT, SO IF I CAN JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, THERE'S A NEW REPORT CALLED THE TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT SEEMS EXTREMELY RELEVANT TODAY, AND THIS IS A FIVE PART REPORT THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND SORT OF THE GOVERNANCE FUNCTION THAT WE PROVIDE WITH IT, MEANING ALL OF THE EXISTING PROJECTS THAT IT'S WORKING ON, OF WHICH BILLY RAY'S PROJECT'S BEEN ON THERE THE ENTIRE TIME, ALONG WITH MANY, MANY OTHERS.
IT'LL TELL YOU ABOUT BUDGETING, STAFFING, THE NUMBER OF TIMES OUR SYSTEM HAS GONE DOWN, WHAT'S GONE DOWN AND FOR HOW LONG, HOW MANY CALLS WE GET FOR SERVICE. BUT I THINK IF I CAN JUST ELABORATE FOR YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CORRECT ME IF I SAY SOMETHING THAT'S WRONG, BUT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN NEEDED ON THE CITY SECRETARY, SECRETARY SIDE HAS ALREADY BEEN ADVANCED AND IT'S JUST PART OF THAT QUEUING OF IT.
SO THIS IS PART OF WHY I CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR GREATER FUNDING OF ITS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MOMENT. THANK YOU.
LAURA, CAN WE GET TOGETHER AND REALLY MASSAGE THIS? BECAUSE YOU'RE KIND OF ALSO PENALIZING PEOPLE FOR GOOD AT THEIR JOB AND GETTING PEOPLE ELECTED IN THOSE THAT AREN'T, THEY GET TO COME IN AND KEEP DOING WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
COUNCIL MEMBER SO I WOULD LOVE TO GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS.
AND I WAS HERE WHEN LEPPERT PUT THIS ONE IN.
CHRIS DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? AND SO I HAD I DO HAVE HISTORY ON THIS ONE.
AND AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
BUT IF WE ALL IF THE BODY AGREES TO BAN OR TO PROHIBIT THEM, SORRY, THEN SO BE IT.
BUT WE JUST NEED TO I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE, BUT PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE MASSAGING AND BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO PROPOSE IT AS AN AMENDMENT AT THE HORSESHOE. OKAY.
[00:55:04]
WELL, AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF CHAIR MCGOUGH HAS A MOTION HE WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE.I'M JUST KIDDING. I WOULD MOVE THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS OR PIDS BE EXCLUDED FROM THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12A AND SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED THE TERM MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS AND THAT ALL REFERENCES TO A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING, BE DELETED.
I'LL READ SOME. BUT IS IT NECESSARY OR IS IT CLEAR ENOUGH AT THIS POINT JUST TO REMOVE IT? IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
OKAY. AND DID YOUR MOTION INCLUDE APPROVING THE REST OF IT? ADVANCING IT TO FULL COUNCIL? ALL RIGHTY. YES.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT INCLUDES THE CHANGE OF LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
WELL, WITH ALL OF THAT, IT'S THE LONGEST MOTION EVER.
YOU WANT TO ADD TO IT, TOO? NO, NO, NO. I'M NOT ADDING ANYTHING.
BUT ONE THING IS I GUESS I'M GOING TO ADD IS IF THAT'S GOING TO BE STRUCK OUT AND THAT MEANS THAT IT'S GOING TO COME THE LANGUAGE IS GOING TO COME LIKE YOU HAVE IT REGARDING THE CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE INFORMATION.
SO I WILL NEED TO PROBABLY THEN ADDRESS THAT.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK HERE, I'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS IT THERE.
YES. WELL, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS JUST ALL OF THE LANGUAGE WILL COME OUT OF THE DRAFT.
RIGHT. BUT I HAVE MY CONCERNS.
RIGHT. SO YOU COULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE.
I'LL AMEND IT. THE AD HOC COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION WITH YOUR AMENDMENT.
YES. AND I DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
OKAY. SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
BUT WHY DON'T YOU DO DISCUSSION? YES. SO HOW ARE WE DOING? TASK FORCE. I KNOW I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND THERE WAS SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF EXCLUDED FROM THE PROCESS OF BEING ON THAT.
IS THAT IS THAT ADDRESSED IN THIS? IT WAS OKAY. SO IT WAS IT WAS ADDRESSED IN THE BEGINNING SLIDES THAT WE BROUGHT IT TO YOU THE LAST TIME WE CAME TO COMMITTEE, OR I THINK WHEN WE WENT TO FULL COUNCIL, IT WAS INCLUDING INCLUDING THEM IN THE EXCEPTION, ALONG WITH ADVISORY MEMBERS OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THEY ARE ACCEPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS, YES.
AS NECESSARY. SO IS CPC, IS THAT GROUP GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR FOLKS BACK? CPC'S SUBCOMMITTEE, THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE, WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLED, WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR STAKEHOLDERS BACK.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO WE'RE AGREED THAT IT'S REMOVED THE INFORMATION, YOU'RE ADJUSTING IT BASED ON THIS FEEDBACK.
OKAY. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY. OUR NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE ON THE BRIAN REISER INVESTIGATION.
I'M AN ASSISTANT CITY AUDITOR WITH THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF CITY AUDITOR MARK SWANN, WHO IS OUT OF TOWN ON A WEEK LONG CONFERENCE, MR. SWANN ASKED ME TO OFFER AN UPDATE ON THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION THAT OUR OFFICE WAS TASKED WITH.
I CAN REPORT TO YOU TODAY THAT THE INFORMATION GATHERING PROCESS HAS COME TO COMPLETION.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, MR. SWANN AND I WERE ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THEN CITY ATTORNEY MR. CASO, WHO EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THE INFORMATION GATHERED AGAINST ACTIVE, OPEN, ONGOING LEGAL MATTERS THAT WERE EITHER RELATED TO OR HAD ISSUES SIMILAR TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION.
[01:00:01]
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE MONITORING PROCESS THAT MR. CASO DESCRIBED CONTINUES AT THIS TIME.I WILL SAY THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NOT REALLY AN UPDATE BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION I'M SORRY, THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND INVESTIGATION, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARE CONTINUING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KEEP IT ON THERE SO THAT PEOPLE REALIZE WE DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT IT.
APPRECIATE IT AND THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.
AND WITH THAT, IT IS 3:03 AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.